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<E30> sister-in-law's dead 325iC, Rear Check Light Relay

Well, I got the car started.  Hooray!  Now there's a host of other "minor"
things that need fixing.  However, the problem turned out to be interesting
and not covered in the FAQs (I don't think) so let me tell you what I found
and hope it helps someone else out someday.

After my first few posts, I did a little basic checking.  Didn't find
anything.  However, once the Bentley manual came, I suddenly had a whole
new lease on problem solving :-)  Since I wasn't getting spark (at first),
I started checking the usual ignition suspects.  I started looking for
sensor malfunctions.  The first check was the sensor that watches teeth go
by (the pulse sensor) and gets crankshaft position.  It checked out fine
but in the process I discovered something VERY useful.  On spark plug wire
#6 is an inductive pickup to sequence the fuel injectors.  This is only
mentioned in a very tiny little "NOTE---" in the Ignition chapter (section
5.3).  You'll miss it if you haven't been careful in your reading.

Anyway, to make a long story short (ha ha), I discovered that the wire from
the pickup to the harness had frayed and was shorted against the engine.  I
taped and sealed it shut with some RTV, let it dry for a bit and then tried
starting the car.  Voila.  I suddenly had spark and a few cranks later the
car fired.  You'd never guess such a little thing could keep the car from
starting (or maybe you would :-)  Didn't run great at first but got better
as it ran longer (methinks I have the adaptive 1.1 Motronic unit).  Anyway,
now I've got a running '87 325iC and can fix all the other little odds and
ends (OBC display out, service control board rechargeable batteries need
replacing, and the usual other little problems).  Thanks to everyone for
tips.

A question now:  The manual claims the Rear Lights Check Relay is in the
luggage compartment near the power antenna.  Well, I can't seem to find it
at all.  Can someone be more specific about where I should look??  Is it
maybe somewhere else in the convertibles?  That little red light on the
Check-Control console is annoying :-)  Thanks.

Jim TenCate, 87 325iC, Los Alamos, NM
[email protected]